APPROACH QUESTION:
What excites you about your personal life right now and what have you done about it?

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what 3 things have made Mary so excited about her personal life right now according to v.46-48?

1. For the Lord has been mindful of the humble state of his servant (herself)
2. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
3. For the Mighty One has done great things for me.

OBSERVATIONS/INTERPRETATIONS:
I asked myself what other things does Mary specifically do to acknowledge the 3 things that have happened to her?
Mary specifically takes time to praise the Lord acknowledging how she is feeling towards the Lord and how her Lord has made an impact in the world by giving her praise report by stating:

1. My soul glorifies the Lord.
2. My spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
3. He is the Mighty One.
4. He is the Holy One.
5. His mercy expands to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
6. He has done mighty deeds with his Arm.
7. He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
8. He has brought down rulers from his throne but has lifted up the humble.
9. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent away the rich empty.
10. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever even as he said to our fathers.

APPLICATION:
I asked myself what are the implications of Mary's actions for my own life that I specifically  implement here and now?
I saw important implications for my own life and it involves sharing  a praise report with others remembering what the Lord Jesus has done for me, remembering what the Lord Jesus has done for this world, and remembering the promises He has given us through  His Word and turning them into praises. The purpose of today's study is to remember to raise a praise report to share to show how much the Lord does care.

When I was down and in despair, the Lord Jesus picked me up and helped me to move. He has blessed me more than I can imagine. I should focus on how the Lord wants to work in my life than worrying about what I have lost or what things I could have done differently in the past. The only way that can happen is through praise. I need to focus on what He has already blessed me with. Mary could have focused on all the negativity that would have surrounded her if people found out that she was going to be pregnant especially if Joseph who she was engaged to found out. Rather she focuses on how the Lord has done wonderful things in her life and then moves on to praise the Lord for things He has done in other people’s lives.

HOW THE GOSPEL GIVES ME A TESTIMONY REGARDING P.R.A.I.S.E:
My mom gave me a small booklet to read in which all her important praise reports to the Lord were written since the time our beloved dad, who was married to my mom for 37 years, went to be with the Lord in Dec 2007.  For the past two years, she has included praise reports that I read through and it encouraged my own faith especially in my fears and doubts. I was really down when my mom was leaving for India few weeks ago and the Lord knew that so it was such a blessing to recall the things the Lord has done in our family through reading the praise report of two years. So, I started doing that where I would take 15 minutes a day to right down praise reports to the Lord. Recently, I slacked off but reading Mary's praise report and recalling the things my mommy shared with me, it excites me to write a praise report to the Lord that I don't mind others to read because many times it can encourage them too just as reading the praise reports my mom wrote to the Lord encouraged me so much. Through reading the praise reports, I learned what the Lord had done in my own life that my mommy carefully jotted down,  what the Lord has been doing around us, and the promises of His Word that we can remember to encourage us.

As I thought about Mary's praise report, it is so exciting to know that the same God that Mary praised is the same God that has saved me through her Son Jesus Christ. What an exciting time Christmas can be when I remember the true meaning of Christmas is because Jesus is the reason for the season. His birth, death, and resurrection alone should give us reasons to praise because He has noticed our wretchedness because of sin and has not left us to our own but love came down to save us. This love is the love of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who came to redeem me and set me free from the spiritual bondage of sin and death through the shedding of His precious cleansing blood on the cross of Calvary so His blood can be antidote for the sin that infects my body. Jesus became the cure for me when He decided to come in His divinity and experience humanity to understand what I go through and give me new life in Him when I turn to Him. He can do that for you too. There is no greater praise than the praise of knowing that we don't have to be left in our sins but have a Savior who saves and  a Lord who leads all those that would come to Him. This Christmas season and beyond, the Lord Jesus has made Himself available to us.

His arm reaches the furthest corners of life. His love encompasses those hurting in pain. His light shines through the darkness of the world bringing light. He is the Light that shines through the darkness. He has not remained a baby in a manager but has become the Lord and Savior for all humanity that would turn to Him. I have turned my life over to Jesus Christ and need His help daily to be led and guided by Him. The star of wonder, the star of night led the wise men to their King of Kings and Lord of lords. God's Word will lead you to Him and will give you a praise report. You can experience what Mary experienced and what so many others have experienced in Christ with me.

He will take our sin and redeem us. He will take us in our doubt and strengthen us. He will not take away all the troubles of this world yet but He will always be with us guiding and leading us. I know I am excited about and so can you.

You will definitely have a praise report to share. I love getting praise reports from Andrea & Jason to see what the Lord Jesus has been doing through their lives in the lives of students I love to serve. I love getting praise reports from Faith who works with Campus Crusade for Christ, and praise reports from Pastor Paul Bucknell whose been a missionary to India and Africa. It excites me to see how the Lord is working through the lives of those I know for His honor and glory.

My favorite praise report is what my mommy shared with me from India. She shared with me how the Lord led  us to bring a young man to Christ. Recently, he left the hospital and wants to now raise his children to come to know Jesus Christ, as their Lord and Personal Savior too. He asked my mommy to pray for him to get rid of the idols in his home and live for Christ calling Him His only God and no other.

As you think about Christmas, don't just get stuck with Jesus as a baby in the manager. Jesus is not a baby anymore but the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is the Savior that the world needs. He is our Emmanuel who alone can bring light into this dark world covered in sin. He is the Word that became flesh for us and made His dwelling among us so one day, He could become our Lamb of God to take away our sins by becoming our sacrifice to redeem us. I praise the Lord for that.

What Jesus did for me He can do for you too right now redeeming you and giving you new life. It does not matter what you have done or where you have been because Jesus saves you by His grace. It is a free gift of grace to bring freedom to you not dependent on your good deeds but solely upon Him.

For none of us are good but all have fallen short of the glory of God but God demonstrates His own love for us while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us and purchased us with His precious Blood. (Romans 3 & 5)

You don't have to have doubts whether the Lord will accept you because He will accept you as you are in your sin when you turn to Him repenting of your sins and asking Him for forgiveness. He will then make you new as you acknowledge Him as your Lord and Savior of your life. For that is why He came. (Romans 10).

The Mighty God who Mary praised is the same God that you and I can praise daily. That is so exciting to know!

I ask you now dear friend, what does your P.R.A.I.S.E report consist of?
Dear friend, I don't know about you, but my praise report has consisted of what the Lord Jesus has done in my life specifically, what the Lord Jesus has done for those around me, and what the Lord Jesus has done in the world. That can be your praise report too and if you have never written a praise report, take Mary's praise report as a sample to create your own. You can do that friend and should do that for our Lord is worthy of our praise.

Don't think about the things you have lost or have not gone well for you this Christmas season, but focus on the Lord Jesus Christ who loves you so much just as you are and has called you by Name. You are precious and special in His sight. Yes, friend you are. It is so awesome to know no matter what doubts we have, there is always something or other the Lord has done in our life that we can have a praise report of.

This Christmas season whether you are with family or alone, celebrate the birth of Christ knowing how much Jesus has done for you and can do for you. The Lord is bigger than our problems and disappointments. He loves us so much and cares for us. Even in our trials and sorrows, when we cannot understand why things happen, the Lord is looking after us. The greatest thing we can praise the Lord is for our Salvation for He is our Savior!

May you come to know praise report always involves society's Emmanuel who is Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of the world.

"Praise Report Always Involves Society's Emmanuel! (P.R.A.I.S.E)/"What does your P.R.A.I.S.E report consist of?

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the wonderful things you have done in our lives. More than anything I thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior. As human beings we would love to be happy and not have to deal with despair and doubts. Unfortunately, that is not possible here on earth unless we are so focused on you that we let you take our despair and doubts.  Help us Oh Lord. I thank you so much for that. Thank you for Mary, your mommy's praise report. I learned a lot from it. Thank you for our loved ones Oh Lord. Mary, your mommy was so ecstatic about what you have done for her that she did not even focus on the negativity of a pregnancy without being married even though she knew she was a virgin. She just focused on you God. I want to be able to focus on you in the things that have happened in my life but need your help. I thank you for loving us so much and being born to save us. I pray that our hearts will always be turned to you. Thank you for this Christmas season and who you are for us. Help praise reports to become a daily part of our lives for there are always things to praise you for Oh Lord. Thanks for being our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father. Oh Lord, I pray for the one who needs your touch right now so they can start praising you continually. Please Oh Lord. Thanks so much. Thank you so much Jesus for dying for our sin and coming back to life to save us. This would not have happened if you had not decided to enter humanity marred with sin to save souls like me. Thanks so much for your grace. Thank you Lord you do not give us always what we want but you do give us what we need as we depend on you. Thank you for being our Savior and our Holy One who does Mighty things in our lives too! We surrender our life to you and ask you to be in control of it. Whatever your will give us the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you so much Jesus. We love you and need you always. Help us Jesus. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you that you have heard our prayers and answered us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. "The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us." I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!